⚙️ Hydraulic Cylinder Speed Calculator (Metric)
Calculate extension & retraction speed, flow demand, and cycle time for hydraulic cylinders
| Bore (mm) | Rod (mm) | Flow 10 L/min (Ext mm/s) | Flow 20 L/min (Ext mm/s) | Flow 40 L/min (Ext mm/s) | Flow 80 L/min (Ext mm/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 18 | 207 | 414 | 828 | 1657 |
| 50 | 28 | 85 | 170 | 340 | 679 |
| 63 | 36 | 53 | 107 | 214 | 428 |
| 80 | 45 | 33 | 66 | 133 | 265 |
| 100 | 56 | 21 | 42 | 85 | 170 |
| 125 | 70 | 14 | 27 | 54 | 109 |
| 160 | 90 | 8 | 17 | 33 | 66 |
| 200 | 110 | 5 | 11 | 21 | 42 |
| 250 | 140 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 27 |
| Fluid Type | Viscosity (cSt @ 40°C) | Density (kg/L) | Vol. Eff. Factor | Typical Use | Max Temp (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral Oil ISO VG 32 | 28–35 | 0.87 | 0.97 | Light machinery, fast systems | 80 |
| Mineral Oil ISO VG 46 | 41–50 | 0.87 | 0.96 | General industrial, mobile | 90 |
| Mineral Oil ISO VG 68 | 61–75 | 0.87 | 0.94 | High-load, slow systems | 90 |
| Water-Based HFB | 20–25 | 0.93 | 0.88 | Fire-risk environments | 60 |
| Water-Glycol HFC | 35–50 | 1.05 | 0.87 | Steel mills, foundries | 55 |
| Synthetic HFD | 25–65 | 1.12 | 0.90 | Aerospace, high pressure | 150 |
| Biodegradable HEES | 42–52 | 0.92 | 0.95 | Forestry, agriculture | 80 |
| Phosphate Ester | 40–50 | 1.09 | 0.91 | Aviation, turbines | 120 |
| Application | Bore (mm) | Rod (mm) | Stroke (mm) | Typical Flow (L/min) | Ext Speed (mm/s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Actuator / Clamp | 32–40 | 18–22 | 100–250 | 2–5 | 25–65 |
| Compact Hydraulic Press | 50–63 | 28–36 | 200–500 | 5–15 | 28–85 |
| Tractor 3-Point Lift | 63–80 | 36–45 | 400–700 | 10–25 | 33–107 |
| Log Splitter | 80–100 | 45–56 | 500–800 | 15–30 | 32–66 |
| Excavator Bucket / Boom | 100–140 | 56–80 | 600–1500 | 40–100 | 54–170 |
| Dump Truck Body | 125–160 | 70–90 | 800–2000 | 30–80 | 27–109 |
| Forklift Mast / Tilt | 80–100 | 45–56 | 1000–3000 | 20–50 | 42–133 |
| Crane Outrigger / Jib | 140–200 | 80–110 | 500–1200 | 50–120 | 27–97 |
| Large Industrial Press | 200–320 | 110–180 | 200–1000 | 60–200 | 21–106 |
The speed of a hydraulic cylinder relates to several main factors, and the most important of them is the flow of the liquid. If the flow is high, the cylinder moves more quickly. On the contrary, low flow results in more slow movement.
When there is loss of flow in the whole system the pace also drops. Rather, if the cylinder moves more quickly than planned, that usually points to extra flow somewhere.
What Affects the Speed of a Hydraulic Cylinder
To estimate the actual speed of a cylinder, you need two basic values. Most first, one must find the surface of the piston. The formula for that surface is diameter squared, multiplied by 0.7854.
After one knows the pisont surface and the flow rate, it is possible to count the pace of the cylinder. The movement of a hydraulic cylinder depends on the amount of total liquid in the cylinder and on the pure surface and curve of the piston.
During the design of hydraulic cylinders, one must consider the needs about speed and force according to the pressure in the cylinder and the available volume flow. Also the size of the cylinder and the load, that it bears, matter. A big cylinder requires more liquid for the same distance, so with the same pump it moves more slowly, but gives moor power.
The most used way to control the pace of a cylinder is by means of flow-control valves. It limits the amount of liquid, that enters the work ports. One can install such valves directly at the ports, along the work lines or back at the valve block.
A smaller tube exit to the cylinder is another good, cheap method to slow the process. Even so, the size of the exit is not the alone element, that changes the flow and the pace.
A regenerative circuit helps the cylinder extend more quickly, but it lowers the actual force. Two-stage or multi-stage pumps form another option. They provide high flow in low pressure and low flow in high pressure.
If one adjusts the rod side outflow through the directional valve in the blind end, together with the main system, that gives great increase of pace, although rather at a bit of force.
An average hydraulic cylinder can reach pace until around 3.28 feet each second. Higher speed commonly causes crashes, because most hydraulic pumps reach maximum at about 2400 RPM. Without load, such a cylinder moves quite fast.
They seem commonly slow because of the load or because the user cares to control them carefully.
If two double-acting cylinders work in parallel setup, the pace halves if the pump flow stays the same, but the ability to bear load grows. In serial setup, it is possible longer reach, but the ability for load does not adjust. The force also affects the cause.
Increase of pace until the whole of forces reaches zero means, that no more speeding up. When the same flow goes to the rod end of a double-acting cylinder instead of to the piston end, it moves morelive, but with less force.
